Billy Paul, ‘Me and Mrs. Jones’ Singer Dead at Age 80 – blogged by @MsJennyb

 Billy Paul, ‘Me and Mrs. Jones’ Singer Dead at Age 80 – blogged by @MsJennyb

Philly jazz and soul singer, Billy Paul, best known for his hit song “Philadelphia Soul” and “Me and Mrs. Jones,” died Sunday at his home in Blackwood, New Jersey, according to ABC News.

The 80-year-old singer, whose career spanned for more than 60 years, had been diagnosed recently with pancreatic cancer.

Known by his beard, large glasses and his voice that made him “one of the great artist to come out of Philly and to be celebrated worldwide,” Kenneth Gamble and Leon Huff, who were apart of the production and writing team who helped bring Paul success, said in a statement. “Our proudest moments with Billy was the recording of the salacious smash ‘Me and Mrs. Jones.’ In our view, it is one of the greatest love songs ever recorded,” they said.

The song brought Paul a Grammy in 1973 for best male R&B performance, following its rise to the top in 1972.

Following his big hit, Paul faced numerous obstacles within the industry. Radio stations resisted his more socially conscious follow-up song, “Am I Black Enough for You.” Years later, Paul sued Gamble and Huff and other industry officials over unpaid royalties, he was awarded $500,000 by a LA jury in 2003.

Paul is survived by his wife, Blanche Williams, with whom he had two children. Although he went through a tough time with Gamble and Huff, he would look back on those years as a lost golden age, reported ABC News.

“It was like a family full of music,” he said. “It was like music round the clock, you know. And I reminisce and I still wish those days were here.”